COOPERATIVES SURGE AHEAD... ..................................................................................................................... Tales of Success and Achievement ................................................................................................................... NATIONAL COOPERATIVE UNION OF INDIA 3, Siri Institutional Area August Kranti Marg New Delhi-110016 NCUI © 2012, NCUI, New Delhi Published by National Cooperative Union of India New Delhi Price ` 200 Printed at National Cooperative Printing Press 3, Siri Institutional Area August Kranti Marg New Delhi-110016 Ph.: 011-26568408 ii IYC- 2012 Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President, National Cooperative Union of India MESSAGE I extend my warmest greetings on the occasion to celebration of International Year of Cooperatives-2012. On this momentous occasion, National Cooperative Union of India is bringing out a compilation of Success Stories of Cooperatives in various activities for example functioning of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies, Multi State Cooperative Societies, Marketing and Processing Societies, Cooperative Bank & Employees Credit Societies, Labour Cooperatives, Sugar Cooperatives, Fishery and Tribal Cooperatives etc. These cooperatives have made a mark of their own in their areas of work and achieved exemplary results. It is a matter of pride and privilege for NCUI that it has identified a few cooperatives out of innumerable cases of excellence strewn all over the country. I hope the compilation of Success Stories will be well received, inspire other cooperatives to achieve excellence in their field of activities and all those who are staunch believer in the ideology, values and principles of cooperatives. Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav iii NCUI “Cooperatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility as value based enterprises routed in the communities having a unique and invaluable presence in today’s world in helping to reduce poverty and generate employment”. - Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General iv IYC- 2012 CONTENTS Foreword vii Preface ix Acknowledgement xi 1 IFFCO’s Contribution Towards Rural Development 1-11 at grassroot level and Strengthening Cooperatives 2 Labour Cooperative For Infrastructure 12-21 Development 3 Cooperative Venture In Rag Picking 22-25 4 Mulkanoor Society’s Bid For Rural Development 26-35 5 Cooperatives Battle Tsunami Impact in Andaman 36-39 & Nicobar Islands 6 Cooperative Venture in Eco-Tourism 40-44 7 Odisha Mobilises Women Power through Maa 45-55 Mangla 8 Success of Self Reliant Cooperative Bank With No 56-61 Borrowing 9 Women Run Bank Benefits Men Too 62-68 10 Kollimalai LAMPS : Beacon Light in Tribal Kolli 69-80 Hills 11 Cooperative Banking Initiates Development of 81-89 Bankura 12 Udupi Shows The Way For General Insurance 90-93 Employees’ Cooperative 13 Gujarat’s Oldest Sugar Cooperative Inspires 94-99 Siblings v NCUI 14 Tattisara Group bails out Farmers-in-Distress 100-113 15 Steel Employees’ Credit Cooperative venture in 114-120 healthcare for the Poor 16 A P Road Transport Employees’ Cooperative 121-127 marches ahead without Roadblock 17 Vasantrao Kale Sugar Coop goes Hi-tech 128-134 18 Campco Bails Out Growers Beyond State Borders 135-139 19 Shreyas Change the Fate of Ahmedabad 140-146 20 Success of Top To Bottom Approach In Matsyafed 147-158 21 cyksg Ñf’k lsok lgdkjh lHkk lfefr 159-165 22 ftyk lgdkjh dsyk mRiknd ,oa foi.ku lfefr] cqjgkuiqj 166-171 vi IYC- 2012 Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited IFFCO Sadan, C-1, District Centre, Saket Place, New Delhi - 110017 Dr. U.S. Awasthi MANAGING DIRECTOR FOREWORD The year 2012 has been declared as International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) by the United Nations. This is expected to be a major initiative for the Indian Cooperative Movement to come together, to raise awareness, to inspire many more cooperators and individuals, to help themselves and others and to kick start vision of building a better world. The Government of India is celebrating International Year of Cooperatives-2012 in collaboration with the State Government, national level cooperative organizations and other stake-holders and chalk-out various activities and programmes to be organized on the occasion on IYC-2012 by various organizations in the country to increase awareness and contribution by the cooperatives in the socio-economic development of the country. Today the Indian Cooperatives have made remarkable progress with are more than 6 lakhs cooperative societies with a membership of 25 crores making it the largest cooperative movement of the world. Cooperatives have a huge network and reach which is unparalleled with almost 100% coverage of the rural areas. The cooperatives play a pivotal role in the main stream of Indian Economy more particularly in the field of rural credit, distribution of agricultural inputs, storage, fertilizer marketing, consumer, fisheries, labour, housing etc. The cooperatives are more relevant today than any other time in the past because it is the only model for upliftment of disadvantageous and weaker-sections of our economy over the important component of inclusive growth. The success of an inclusive growth model in our economy will depend much on growth in the rural areas specially in the agriculture sector. Cooperatives can create stable livelihoods in rural areas. vii NCUI Despite having more than 100 years of distinguished history of cooperative movement of different sizes in different sector, the cooperatives by and large do not have access to the collective insights strengths and best practices of each other. It is extremely important to incorporate detailed information on cooperative model of enterprise and their success stories. There have been cooperatives with vision, dedicated and effective leadership, professional work culture, sincerity, commitment and spirit, dedication and sacrifices. There have been successful cooperatives in every nook and corner in the country. Their stories are very inspiring with their professional outlook, sense of belongingness, unity and struggles. They are the role model of progress and prosperity and serve as a guide to the entire movement. I am happy that NCUI has brought out this book containing best practices and success stories from the cooperative fold to create awareness and enlighten the people about how they made their organization successful and helped members and community as a whole. It is my sincere belief that this publication which includes success stories more particularly from the grass root organizations would enlighten the readers and provide useful insight on cooperative movement, governance and leadership for making the cooperative business model more popular and successful. Dr. U.S. Awasthi viii IYC- 2012 PREFACE Cooperatives, the only alternative to crisis-ridden economy World economy is yet to recover from the crisis generated way back in September 2008 when Lehman Brothers in the US send waves of shock across the globe. The impact then was so strong that the leaders of major and emerging economies came under the umbrella of G-20 to find out ways and means of bailing out the global economy. The efforts, however, yielded some marginal results with “green shoots” appearing, although “the winter was far from over”. But just before the global economy could be put on the right track to recovery, the world felt another severe shock of Sovereign Debt Crisis in the Eurozone. This was a terrible blow and the “green shoots” soon became a mirage. Situations in developed economies look no better with growth rates declining and job opportunities shrinking. The growth poles are shifting to the emerging economies like India, China, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, Russia. Rethinking is on for changing the global financial architecture. Admitting the contemporary realities the G-20 had resolved for reforms in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. But the developed countries are trying to hold on to their clout in the Bretton Woods twins and are unwilling to give adequate representation to the developing countries. The authors and advocates of “liberalization and globalization” have given up the theory of “trickling down”. They are now talking in terms of “inclusive growth” and promoting “real economy” as joblessness is on the rise and the rich-poor disparities are widening. Cooperative movement world over has so far stood the test of time. Anchored in the grassroots, the Cooperatives are the apt institutions to foster “real economy” and “inclusive growth”. The real alternative financial and economic architecture can be based on Cooperative Principles. ix NCUI In the present day inter-connected world it is difficult for any country to isolate itself. At best they can insulate themselves from the adverse impact of the global crisis. The Cooperatives act as a shield. One thing is certain – the Cooperatives need to be innovative and professional in the present day world and at the same time adhere to the Cooperative Principles. In fact the efficient Cooperatives in the emerging economies including India have rendered yeoman services in not only insulating the economy but also fostering growth and increasing job opportunities. The developed world which are practicing protectionism in the wake of the global crisis need to rethink and adopt Cooperative Principles for the betterment of not only their economy but also for reviving the global economy and putting it on a sustainable path. This book